Reaching for Home (House of Garner Book 3)

by Erin R Flynn

  “Cinnamon rolls,” I confessed. “I was hoping for cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Oh, those apple cinnamon ones.” I chuckled when Simon yowled, agreeing with me. “Yeah, any of the fruit ones are awesome. The cherry and chocolate chip ones were like orgasmic good.”

  “I’ll make sure there’s some for dessert. For now, you rest, My Princess,” he whispered, his hands moving gently, almost in a rhythm to lull me to sleep.

  It must have worked because I snoozed for a while and actually woke up lying against James, Kristof and Simon both gone.

  “Still sleeping,” he grumbled. “I’m pretending I didn’t bring such assholes to upset you.”

  “That was yesterday.”

  “I brought them all, remember?”

  “Fair enough, but it’s not your fault, and I wouldn’t remotely blame you.” I cleared my throat and moved his hand off my ass. “I’m not getting the switch out.”

  “Kristof said he was going to chase down those guys the moment you made up.”

  “Shit, did he really? I don’t know if I’m worried that will piss off Nora or turned on that he took them upsetting me so seriously.”

  He snorted. “I was just teasing you. Besides, Sebastian said that when they reach Ireland looking for the safety of the coven from Kristof and he didn’t step in, she will know they fucked up and fucked up bad. He said Kristof’s punishment might be deadly, but Nora’s are dedicated. She takes it very seriously and they’re lengthy.”

  “I wish I had the patience for that.”

  He shrugged, pinching my butt. “I think we prefer you full of snark and fire. That noble you sent Tyson and the others after was in a bad spot before they took chunks of him. Then one of Sebastian’s guys got him to Nora by taking one of the boats from Boston you allowed. I brought him back the last trip, and he was laughing as he told us and how pissed Nora was that the asshole was running his mouth.”

  “I think I owe her a gift for helping with that.” I turned enough to lean my chin on his chest. “That still doesn’t explain why you’re here, and I’m not sure you’re supposed to be in my bed given you’re not my knight or noble.”

  “Maybe soon if that invitation is still there,” he admitted. “I heard a lot of stories from my Grandma, so it’s hard to turn that switch in my head, Trisha too.” He waited until I nodded. “I was heading to my room when Kristof came out of yours and said he wanted to find you cinnamon rolls and help Simon with his assigned bank, so if I could stay with you, he’d appreciate it.”

  “Not sure how I feel that he sent another man to my bed,” I drawled.

  “I might give him this one,” he said after a minute. “He seemed a bit anxious as to what to do. He admitted he didn’t want you to wake alone and worry, but he didn’t want you to wake with him still there and maybe be scared even if Simon was there. He figured I was the best mix of friend and enough to protect you given Dennis and the assholes are in the hotel and I’m armed.”

  “Fair enough. If you might mention to him that there should be a clear line as to who he might send in the future, I would actually appreciate it.”

  “You guys having trouble communicating?”

  I sighed. “The short answer is some of my issues pour salt in his issues and vice versa.”

  “That’s not good.”

  “I agree, but I do like him when we can get past that. I think we’ve got a way this time. I thought he understood more than he did, and he thought I was seeing things as he did after our last talk.”

  “Still, that’s a bit much.” He chuckled when my face flushed. “The sex that good?”

  “Yes, the first time, but that’s not—it’s not about sex. I mean, the connection was there and I did trust him before we went off course. I want to go back to trusting him even if we don’t work out; I want that trust back.”

  “You are a more patient person than I am. I tend to cut and run first sign of shit.”

  “So yeah, you should wait before giving your oath for sure,” I drawled, rolling my eyes when he pinched my ass again. “I’m going to tell them who made me bruise.”

  “Shit, you are pale enough it would show.”

  I burst out laughing and rolled out of bed, grabbing my shoes and heading for the door. I barely remembered to grab the keycard, and James was on my tail. He caught me at the elevator and growled in warning.

  “I’m also your escort, and I almost forgot my jacket.”

  “Just keeping you on your toes. Where are we going?”

  “Oh, there’s something you’ll want to see,” he promised.

  Oh, he was right.

  We drove just under a half an hour to the edge of Juneau’s outskirts where they were starting the house raiding from the map and plan I’d seen. We parked next to some dumpsters people drove over and then the rest were trailers—open top or regular—for loading.

  And Dennis and the others were helping.

  I frowned, but James shook his head. “Sebastian said they get their asses to work instead of lounging around with better food and amenities than they have back home or they were going to have a long conversation about how much what they did is going to piss off Nora, as she would have sent more of their vampires on the plane. They took seats just to start shit and expected to be flown right back.”

  “No, they expected I would accept to not start trouble and get the array of favors I’m sure requesting desperate aid leads to.”

  “Yeah, probably, but it seems the nobles of Cerdic’s mom weren’t privy to that part of the plan, as they sided with Sebastian and said to start behaving as they also represent all the Wessexes, not just Olivia’s court. It’s all for us and Nora’s coven. I’m not sure how all the dominoes will land, but it was a big push that fell hard and will echo.”

  I sighed. “I’m glad everyone’s not on board with that shit, but like, come on, we’ve got enough going on to start with that shit.” I snapped my fingers and found Sebastian before I forgot, noting Dennis was close. “I want to prepare a present for Nora to thank her since she handled that crazy vamp James tells me is in her cells. What would she like best? Is there something she personally wants?”

  “Not just for the coven,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “There were some nice houses in town. I think allowing one to be stripped for her and her needs as certain fixtures and whatnot gave out as they do. Or she can give it to those in her good graces, which is nice.”

  I nodded. “Raid the governor’s mansion. Let her know if there’s something she wants specifically, we can make sure to save it later. There was a lot of posh houses that were completely untouched where I met Darius.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Thank you for handling that,” I said, waving off towards Dennis who did not look happy at being referred to as such. Well, I didn’t call him an asshole again. What else did he really expect?

  Asshole.

  4

  Dinner was amazing, and I got my cinnamon rolls for dessert. I thanked Kristof and then everyone who helped to cook. I was about to head to see if Vance wanted to help me with sorting seeds, as I wanted the ones I had finished before we started mass killing corrupted, but my nobles had something else in mind.

  “You need some fun and fun we planned,” Jaxon said as he swooped me up in his arms. He ignored the yelp I gave and smiled down at me. “We have a surprise that you get tonight but we said others could use starting tomorrow.”

  “Color me intrigued,” I chuckled, wanting to know what was going on. I frowned when we headed to the part of the hotel we weren’t using. I couldn’t think back to the map, but then I got it when we arrived at the pool… Which was now fixed and filled in, including the hot tub.

  “Father wants to see if you will leave this hotel up and running and in Mother’s care for hunting and more raiding later, vacations even. He’s been taking pictures and wants to make the pitch to her as they have wolves, hawks, and more species of shifters in the coven that just don’t have any animals to hunt any
more.”

  “I’m not against it. I want some sort of guarantee they won’t decimate the wildlife because it’s exploded here, but there are whole areas closer to us that were decimated and are now burnt biomes like Wilson said of some zombie killing game. So we’ll fix what we can, but we’ll need it too. I think I’m fine with it as long as a group meets up with them and everyone keeps behaving.”

  “Because we’ll need the meat too,” Jaxon muttered. “It’s a smart plan to even spin it that way that this is now all yours, an extended branch of your coven, but you’re allowing to leave something like this in the care of your friends, to bring more friends or whatever, but you are boss.”

  “Yeah, like that. If your parents say they got this, I believe that, but now more than ever can it not seem like I’m so overly generous people come in and pull all they can.”

  “They’ll understand that and even agree with it.”

  I nodded when he set me on my feet. “So I don’t know how to swim. I’ve had to, but it’s a really sad doggy paddle of not drowning.”

  “Why did you have to?” he asked.

  I swallowed loudly. “I’ve jumped a few ships when bad guys boarded or you know, corrupted.” I shook my head when he opened his mouth. I didn’t want to talk about it when the plan was to have fun and de-stress.

  “Well, we’re just playing around, and we promise we got you, love,” Cerdic said.

  I turned to him and cleared my throat. “I’m sorry I jumped all over you yesterday. You sounded sort of like you thought I might deserve what I’d get when I’d gotten so upset for you.”

  “I know, and we’re good,” he promised, leaning in and softly kissing my cheek. “And I thank you for caring so much you got pissed for me. I’m on your side too.”

  “Glad we settled that.” I was, but I raised an eyebrow when I saw the swimsuit Jaxon held up for me.

  If it could be called that. It was basically a lot of connected straps. Or really it looked like open blinds.

  I shook my head and grabbed it, being a brat and going to change in the bathroom. I checked out how I looked in it, feeling confident I wore it well, before letting down my hair so it was wild once I fluffed it up a bit. As I headed back to them I felt more than four pairs of eyes on me, turning to see who else was there, but Cerdic got to me first.

  “I win,” he chuckled, swinging me up and then continuing so he tossed me in the pool.

  I barely hit the water and I was plucked out, Jaxon holding me to him. He gave me a heated kissing, and I heard something tear. I glanced down and saw it was one of the straps.

  “So it’s like that?” I chuckled.

  “Yes, we’re going to play, and each time you smile you lose a strap to reward us.”

  “I don’t remember smiling.”

  “You did,” he purred. He kissed me again before tossing me in the water.

  This time Darius wrapped me around him as I gasped for air. He kissed me as I lost another strap. I went to see who that other person was, but then I was being tossed again.

  Kristof was next, and I melted when he asked if it was okay. I nodded, even leaning in to kiss him first. It was gentle, seductive. I liked his intense kisses, but we could work up to those again. This was what we both needed right now. He smirked at me and tossed me, making me squeal as he gave me way more air time than the others and I had a moment to freak out that I wasn’t going to land in the pool.

  Cerdic retrieved me, and I couldn’t stop laughing as I gasped for air. It was dizzying, not just the dunking and tossing, but switching between them and their kisses, their touches driving me crazy.

  It apparently drove them crazy too as the second they got all the straps off of me, I was out of the pool with Jaxon—who was apparently the winner as the suit fell off on his turn. That’s one way to play hot potato, but I liked it a lot. He laid me over one of the glass patio tables so my left foot was still on the floor and then he brought my right leg up and knelt behind me.

  I moaned as he licked me, not caring my wet hair was in my face or how weird the position felt. What he was doing to me was too good to focus on stuff like that. I whimpered as my orgasm built and yowled when it slammed into me. Maybe they were right that cats were my spirit animals, but it just felt natural to react that way.

  “Let me taste,” Darius muttered and then knelt behind me. I got fun all over again before it was time for more.

  “Say yes,” Jaxon whispered as he rubbed his dick against my pussy, probably saying it for Kristof and realizing they needed to show him how to be with me.

  “Yes, please, yes,” I moaned, gasping as he pushed in me. I moved my hair out of my face as I looked at him over my shoulder. “Am I nice and wet for you?”

  He groaned deep enough it echoed in the tiled room. He liked when I threw a taunt or poked at him. “Yes, my princess is perfect for me as always.”

  “Show me,” I demanded.

  So he did. He worked me open and then slammed into me until I had to turn back around to not feel like I might fall. I mewled at how good it felt, trying to push up onto my elbow as I also wrapped my fingers around the edge of the table.

  I pushed up enough to change the angle slightly, making him hit that perfect spot… Right as I locked gazes with that other person. A noble from James’s ship was sitting in the corner in workout shorts like he’d finished at the hotel gym. His dark hair was cut short on the sides, but just a bit longer on top and was stylish. He had some scruff on his strong jaw but like he’d shaved that morning.

  But it was his eyes that made my heart flutter. They were an amazing green that made me think of morning dew on young mint leaves that were my favorite, bright even in the darker room and somehow dancing with the light. They were captivating and pulled me in.

  I didn’t know how tall he was sitting, but he was—girth came to mind. He wasn’t stocky or adult filled in like Kristof or Cerdic, but muscles with muscles and just short of that line of over the top. But he was a strong, big boy for sure.

  I angled myself so he could see more of my breasts bouncing and moving with Jaxon’s thrusts, licking my lips when heat filled his eyes. “Harder, fuck me harder, my love.”

  “Oh shit,” Jaxon hissed even as I also taunted the stranger. “Love you, Inez.”

  “Me too. Write it on me. Show them.”

  We both moaned deeply as he used his blood to write “Mine” and “Love” on me. We were getting close to the glorious finish line, and for some reason I changed the plan.

  “On me. Not in me. Mark me,” I demanded with grunts as he about slammed into me hard enough the table might break.

  He brought me with a cry and worked me through it, but then when it was his turn he pulled out, his cum hitting my heated skin. He marked my ass and lower back with all he had. “Fuck me, that was hot.”

  “Yeah, it was,” I agreed, smirking when I saw the stranger agreed.

  It took me a few moments to make my legs work, but then I stood, giving Jaxon a quick kiss before pulling away and heading to the guy. He watched me move, his eyes eating up every inch of my naked body. When I stopped, I gave him several moments to look closely.

  “I was going to ask if you’re interested, but clearly you are,” I chuckled, nodding to his groin that looked ready to burst out of those shorts. “Would you like a taste?”

  His nostrils flared. “Yes, Princess, I would.”

  I slid two fingers between my legs, slowly to tease him, and then inside of me so they were soaked. Then I leaned in and held them out to him. He moved forward as well, gripping my wrist gently as his tongue ran all over my fingers and he got every drop.

  “You taste as sweet as they boast,” he murmured, his eyes even more heated.

  “Thank you. Did you want to be introduced to me before?” I waited until he nodded. “Are you pissed or insulted we kept pushing that back?”

  I smiled when he shook his head. I’d only met Eddie so far, and that was intentional until more was settled with my
court and men. It was the safest route for now, and for some reason it felt right to me to take the time. Maybe I wanted them to see who I was a bit before meeting them so they didn’t assume too much about me? I wasn’t sure, but now I was glad so we had this moment.

  “No, Princess, I think it smart, as you have no older family to guide you.” His voice wasn’t as quiet that time, and I could hear an accent. A thick one. A sexy one. It made me think of my time in what was Poland or the Ukraine.

  Did I have an accent and sexy eyes fetish or what?

  “Thank you. I still want to apologize for being rude and not meeting you sooner.”

  “Not bash my head in for watching what I shouldn’t?”

  “I could have told you to leave.” I smiled when he nodded, letting my fangs come out and cutting my finger before running it along his neck. He moaned deeply, almost making my body vibrate just from that one touch. “Am I forgiven?”

  “Yes, yes, you are. Your blood makes my body sing like none ever have.”

  I frowned. “Have a lot of princesses bled on you?”

  He nodded. “It used to be a common way to try for a potential match at court. We normally bleed on them first. Would you allow it?”

  I stood, licking my finger and then running my hands down my body. “Where would you like to bleed on me?”

  I watched as he bit into his hand. I mean, a huge, angry gash, not just a slice of his fangs. Then he reached for me faster than I could keep up with and I was on his lap facing the others mostly as he moved his bleeding hand to my pussy. He rubbed it against me, and I came, my hands gripping his arms as I rode the fire and pleasure.

  And it was F. I. R. E. My whole body went insane, way more than Cerdic’s blood even made me feel.

  “Darius,” I whimpered.

  “Mate, your blood is too much for her,” Cerdic muttered. “She’s going to blow apart.”

  “I see that,” the stranger murmured, pulling his hands away and pressing his lips to my ear. “May I see what my blood does to you, Princess?”